Family Friendly Portland: Cafestag:blog.oregonlive.com,2014:/familyfriendly/12412007-08-01T04:07:49ZFamily friendly news, events and information for Oregon and Portland families - By Marlynn Schotland and Jennifer de ThomasMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advanceS + K Anniversary Partytag:blog.oregonlive.com,2007:/familyfriendly//1241.2675872007-08-01T04:07:49Z2007-08-03T04:33:24ZI have mixed feelings about this place lately, but I still love them and keep coming back. The staff are good people and the Wi-Fi is dependable. So try them again, during their Anniversary Party Sip & Kranz 901 NW...Marlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html
I have mixed feelings about this place lately, but I still love them and keep coming back. The staff are good people and the Wi-Fi is dependable. So try them again, during their Anniversary Party Sip & Kranz 901 NW...
Mama Morningstag:blog.oregonlive.com,2006:/familyfriendly//1241.2417212006-07-31T05:22:00Z2007-07-10T21:44:04ZSince leaving Urban Grind (a family-friendly fave of mine), former owner Brenda Edin opened up Tour de Crepes at 2921 NE Alberta. I'll be honest and let you know that I personally have yet to go, but have heard nothing but happy satisfied tales from fellow mamas about her new place.
Now, at the suggestion of her own eight-year-old daughter, Edin is hosting Mama Mornings, starting this Wednesday, August 2nd. Every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday mornings from 9 - 11am, all mamas and mamas-to-be can enjoy 20% off your purchase! Ah, saving money is a very good thing indeed for local families.
Tour de Crepes is a French-inspired creperie & dessert bar with a fabulous outdoor space, including a sandbox & large patio for sidewalk chalk artistry. Go and not only discover a great new family spot but also support a mom-owned business who is creating this GREAT opportunity to in turn support the moms and moms-to-be in our community. Thanks Brenda!Marlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html
Now, at the suggestion of her own eight-year-old daughter, Edin is hosting Mama Mornings, starting this Wednesday, August 2nd. Every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday mornings from 9 - 11am, all mamas and mamas-to-be can enjoy 20% off your purchase! Ah, saving money is a very good thing indeed for local families.

Tour de Crepes is a French-inspired creperie & dessert bar with a fabulous outdoor space, including a sandbox & large patio for sidewalk chalk artistry. Go and not only discover a great new family spot but also support a mom-owned business who is creating this GREAT opportunity to in turn support the moms and moms-to-be in our community. Thanks Brenda!]]>
Cafe au Play Fundraisertag:blog.oregonlive.com,2006:/familyfriendly//1241.2417142006-08-31T20:22:15Z2007-07-10T21:44:03ZCafe au Play and urbanMamas are hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, September 9th for Cafe au Play. Read on for details! Marlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html

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tag:blog.oregonlive.com,2006:/familyfriendly//1241.2417092006-09-22T04:54:31Z2007-07-10T21:44:02ZMarlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.htmlPB & Ellie's Cafe , one of my favorite family-friendly spots in P-town, is now open once again after being closed for remodeling work. Just in time for all of those rainy day playdates! Not only is the space slightly different (low booths replace the long table with row of chairs that once faced the windows, the chalkboard wall is replaced by a fresh coat of serene paint with children's drawings "framed" on the wall...very cute!), but there is now also table service and a revised menu. Some of the faves are still there but there seems to be more variety for the grown ups too. All of the food still embodies PB & E's strong commitment to local, organic, healthy meals, and is just as tasty as I remember it being before. There's a super cute cheese and cracker platter that a mama pal ordered for her son that I don't remember being on the menu before, but I'm definitely getting it next time: plenty of cheese cut into the shapes of hearts and flowers along with yummy whole grain crackers. My junior burger was huge and tasty and they happily substituted the sweet potato sticks for applesauce and carrot sticks for me.

Open once again from 9am until 9pm (HOORAY!! I so missed the 9am opening from before), PB & Ellie's Cafe is also applying for a liquor license (not that I can drink right now, but hooray again!). The remodeled space is beautiful and there are lots of new toys in the play area to keep the kids entertained.

In addition to the remodel, PB & Ellie's now has Silly Hours, which run from 9-11am and again from 2:30 -4:30pm. During these times throughout the month, various community groups will be hosting events there that are open to the public. Most of them are free, and of course, all are super family friendly.

Here are two upcoming events:

Monday Sept 25 - 10am.
MOMMY MINUTE MAKEOVERS:
Wouldn't it be great to treat yourself to spa
luxury everyday? You can! Come treat yourself to a "Minute Makeover"
designed especially for Moms on the Go, while your young ones play.
The Minute Makeover includes complimentary customized skin care
samples to pamper and rejuvenate. Presented by Renee Gotcher,
independent sales director and skin care consultant. An RSVP is
required: Please send an e-mail to renee@myminutemakeover.com by
Sept. 24, visit www.myminutemakeover.com for more details.

Tuesday Sept 26 - 3:45-4:45pm.
FACE PAINTING CLASS
Designed for 10-16 year olds. PB & Ellie's owner, Heidi, teaches
older kids how to face paint for FREE with just one catch! You have to
come back and offer one hour of face painting to our guests within 30
days. Fun for everyone! Space limited. Reservations required by the
24th. Email peanutbutter@peanutbutterellies.com.

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tag:blog.oregonlive.com,2006:/familyfriendly//1241.2417082006-09-22T16:08:15Z2007-07-10T21:44:01ZMarlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html
I am in love. And thy name is Sip & Kranz. Oh Sydney's, don't worry, I still love you too. But this, this is different. This is going to be five times longer than any blog post should be, but it deserves the recognition.

I fought the masses by avoiding this place for at least a couple of months. The feedback was too positive. The comments, too glowing. The descriptions of the play space, too perfect to be true. I have this thing where I hate going to places or seeing movies that have gotten nothing but great reviews; I always find the catch, and it annoys me to no end. The places are never as good as I imagine and the movies are certainly not as good (I bet I would have enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite ten times more had I not had a million people tell me I HAD to see it because they knew I would LOVE it so much. Yup. Still bitter.). Well, Sip & Kranz lives up to its fairly new yet stain-free reputation.

What makes it so great? Everything. No really. I am admittedly a tough critic and this place just softens me up into a big mushball of love for the space. It's open from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm - my kind of hours! Any place that understands that moms are up at the crack of dawn and need a cool place to down some coffee and pastries where they still feel like a somewhat hip and with-it adult while their kiddos play is my kind of place already.

First, let's talk decor, because that's the most important thing about a family-friendly space to me in the beginning. True to its Pearl District locale, Sip & Kranz is tres modern and family-friendly hip at its best. Extremely high ceilings, stark white floors, high back chairs with cushy pillows, low modular tables exist in the main portion of the restaurant, while taller round tables and white mod chairs exist near the entrance and play area. Pay attention local furniture & baby stores: stop trying to sell me kitschy primary or pastel-colored cutesy crud for my kids' rooms and take a page from Sip & Kranz's playroom for what real modern kids' furniture looks like. This is THE play space in Portland for the modern parent, hands down. Comfy carpeting makes the space soft and inviting, mini white tables and chairs help create connections between the adult and kids furniture, a chalkboard wall inhibits the entire North wall of the playspace, blocks and other toys are organized in durable plastic bins, comfy orange rocking seats and big throw pillows make extra seating fun, there are tons of books for kids of all ages, while the mere existence of two steps leading from the playspace to a locked door with windows facing the street act as yet another "activity" for the wee tots to do while there. Up and down they can go, back and forth, stopping to watch the streetcar go by (yet another added bonus activity!). I also love that the space is separated from the "adult" area by a thin glass wall.

I could write a novel about how much I love the overall decor in this space. So let's move on to food. I am a pastry snob. A good friend and I recently had a discussion about pastries in Portland, and I realized I wasn't happy with what I was getting. Anywhere. (Starbucks pastries are the worst these days, by the way, have you noticed?). Sip & Kranz pastries are as wonderful as they come in Portland, both in variety (thank you for variety!) and in taste. The turkey and cream cheese croissant is my favorite. I haven't had anything from the lunch menu but it looked pretty darn good too. I hear they either have or are getting a liquor license as well, and their coffee drinks are very well made.

Perhaps the most important part, really, of any family-friendly restaurant or cafe is the staff. I love them at Sip & Kranz! I had great mini-conversations with three people who worked there and they were all kind, genuinely happy to be there, and they went the extra mile for me and my kiddo. They chatted and made me laugh, and even laughed at my feeble jokes. I think they really like working there! I met Lindsay, the manager (forgive me if I misspelled your name), who was gracious and friendly, and told me that her sister owned the place with another woman, and both of them are young moms too. As if I didn't already love this space... fellow mamapreneurs? I was just giddy.

And for my fellow working mamas and papas, or for those who just want to check their emails, there's free Wi-Fi here too. Is this heaven? Really? Just pinch me. What's the catch to this place? There must be one, right? Even the bathroom has a little kids potty. Very thoughtful.

So, dear readers, as the drizzly grey starts to take over our NW skies, you know where you'll find me. And I know that SO many of you are already S & K fans, so I am sure I'll see you there more often from now on. In fact, I'm going there tonight! Thank you, Sip & Kranz. You have filled a great void in the Portland Family Friendly market, and you do so with much grace and style.

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tag:blog.oregonlive.com,2006:/familyfriendly//1241.2417002006-10-12T17:53:03Z2007-07-10T21:44:00ZLots of events coming up at PB & Ellie's Cafe!
PORTLAND MAMA'S INC
HALLOWEEN PLAYDATE - Wednesdays Oct 18th, November 15th - 3-5pm.
Come join Portland Mamas Inc. (PMI) members for their monthly playdate.
Whether you are a mama entrepreneur, considering becoming one or just
want to hang with some local mamas and kids, we invite you to join the
fun! Little ones can come dressed up in their Halloween costumes too!
NAVIGATING MOM'S GROUPS
Thursday October 19th - 9:30am
Laurie Cox of MOTHERROOTS COUNSELLING hosts this relaxed discussion for moms exploring this great form of social support.
MOMMY MINUTE MAKEOVERS:
October 23rd, November 30th - 10am Wouldn't
it be great to treat yourself to spa luxury everyday? You can! Come
treat yourself to a "Minute Makeover" designed especially for Moms on
the Go, while your young ones play. The Minute Makeover includes
complimentary customized skin care samples to pamper and rejuvenate.
Presented by Renee Gotcher, independent sales director and skin care
consultant. An RSVP is required: Please send an e-mail to
renee@myminutemakeover.com by Oct 22nd, visit MYMINUTEMAKEOVER.COM for more details.
FACE PAINTING CLASS
October 24th, November 28th - 3:45pm
Designed for 10-16 year olds. PB & Ellie's owner, Heidi, teaches
older kids how to face paint for FREE with just one catch! You have to
come back and offer one hour of face painting to our guests within 30
days. Fun for everyone! Space limited. Reservations required by the
23rd. Marlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html
PB & Ellie's Cafe!

PORTLAND MAMA'S INC
HALLOWEEN PLAYDATE - Wednesdays Oct 18th, November 15th - 3-5pm.
Come join Portland Mamas Inc. (PMI) members for their monthly playdate.
Whether you are a mama entrepreneur, considering becoming one or just
want to hang with some local mamas and kids, we invite you to join the
fun! Little ones can come dressed up in their Halloween costumes too!

NAVIGATING MOM'S GROUPS
Thursday October 19th - 9:30am
Laurie Cox of MOTHERROOTS COUNSELLING hosts this relaxed discussion for moms exploring this great form of social support.

MOMMY MINUTE MAKEOVERS:
October 23rd, November 30th - 10am Wouldn't
it be great to treat yourself to spa luxury everyday? You can! Come
treat yourself to a "Minute Makeover" designed especially for Moms on
the Go, while your young ones play. The Minute Makeover includes
complimentary customized skin care samples to pamper and rejuvenate.
Presented by Renee Gotcher, independent sales director and skin care
consultant. An RSVP is required: Please send an e-mail to
renee@myminutemakeover.com by Oct 22nd, visit MYMINUTEMAKEOVER.COM for more details.

FACE PAINTING CLASS
October 24th, November 28th - 3:45pm
Designed for 10-16 year olds. PB & Ellie's owner, Heidi, teaches
older kids how to face paint for FREE with just one catch! You have to
come back and offer one hour of face painting to our guests within 30
days. Fun for everyone! Space limited. Reservations required by the
23rd.

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tag:blog.oregonlive.com,2006:/familyfriendly//1241.2416902006-11-16T21:49:06Z2007-07-10T21:43:58ZMarlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html
Did you know PB & Ellie's is not only remodeled, but they have a whole new dinner menu AND have a liquor license now! Plus, they're offering a ton of great events and activities throughout the fall and winter. Check out their events calendar for the latest - you're sure to find something that meets your fancy and keeps you warm and cozy and out of the rain this fall!

PB & E JAMMIES CONCERTSJammies encouraged but not required to enjoy our all age dinner concerts. Every Saturday night in November after 5:30, local musician JOHNNY KEENER
will entertain the crowd.

FAMILY DINNER THEATRE
Join puppeteer PENNY WALTERS & her puppet cast for fun, adventure and laughter on their mini-musical, storytelling journeys. Audience participation is unavoidable. Great for all ages. Shows start at 7pm.
* Magic Soup - November 16th - TONIGHT!* The Mitten - December 21st ]]>
Vita Cafetag:blog.oregonlive.com,2006:/familyfriendly//1241.2416842006-12-12T05:33:26Z2007-07-10T21:43:56ZMarlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html
Looking for a great place to rest your feet and get some healthy treats during the mad holiday rush? Check out Vita Cafe at NE 31st and Alberta.

The Vita Cafe's kid's menu entrees are $4.50 and under. Kids menu includes healthy options such as brown rice &
seasoned tofu, vegan mac and cheese, steamed organic veggies,
corn cakes, and lots of wheat free choices, such as spelt bread peanut butter
and jelly and many wheat free desserts - a treat for people who have wheat
intolerance. My own son, mind you, shuns most attempts I make to feed him such food (and yes, I have tried up to 15 sometimes 20 times of the same item - to no avail). But I do like places that have these kind of healthy options since many of my mama pals have kids with various food allergies.

They also are equipped with changing table, toys, coloring menu,
lots of high chairs. Karen Woodbury, mama to a two and four year old and owner of Vita Cafe, touts the restaurant as "a pretty relaxed casual cafe," with the usual busy Saturday and
Sunday morning brunch rush.

Vita Cafe is open from 9 to 10 Monday - Friday 8-11 Saturday
and 8-10 on Sunday. The best time to go (I think): between 5 and 7pm every night when kids eat for just a buck! One dollar! Vita also serves cocktails now too...a little something for everyone :) Go, enjoy and be merry, one and all in the family!

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Murray Hill Cafetag:blog.oregonlive.com,2007:/familyfriendly//1241.2416682007-02-25T12:24:21Z2007-07-10T21:43:52ZGood service and good food is truly a difficult combo to find in Portland area restaurants these days, especially when you are toting kids. My family had the best dining experience lately, and it wasn't at one of the hot new places propelled to unwarranted fame by the local media, or any place in the Pearl or Alberta. It was within a suburban shopping center on Murray Blvd called Murray Hill Cafe. Located at 14500 SW Murray-Scholls Drive in Beaverton, this unassuming cafe tucked away next to the manmade lake and across the parking lot from Ruby Tuesday's holds a surprisingly ultra family-friendly environment -- and great eats to boot!The moment we walked in, the service was outstanding. We were greeted right away, seated, and given a kids menu with crayons. The waiter (whom I actually believe was the manager) gave us attentive service the whole time without hovering. The food was incredible! I had the butternut squash ravioli, my husband had the ceasar salad and my son had the grilled cheese with cup of fruit. Everything was fresh and presented beautifully, and we didn't have to wait long for the food at all, which we all know is crucial when you have kids. We were told that on our way out, our son could choose a toy from the treasure chest to take home with him. We chose a little notepad in the shape of a car. My son was so excited. Murray Hill Cafe also has free wi-fi and plenty of space for folks without kids to hang out and work without kids like my son being too obnxiously in your space. There are lots of tables but more importantly for those of us with kids, lots of high-back booths. It's an airy space where kids won't feel blocked in. I miss service like this in restaurants. I miss decent food at a decent price. It's nice to know that we still CAN get these things and be welcomed as diners with little ones in tow. I don't care where you live - go to Murray Hill Cafe even if it's a 25 minute drive, and it will be worth it. Marlynn Jayme Schotland, community bloggerhttp://connect.oregonlive.com/user/mschotla/index.html
Good service and good food is truly a difficult combo to find in Portland area restaurants these days, especially when you are toting kids. My family had the best dining experience lately, and it wasn't at one of the hot new places propelled to unwarranted fame by the local media, or any place in the Pearl or Alberta. It was within a suburban shopping center on Murray Blvd called Murray Hill Cafe. Located at 14500 SW Murray-Scholls Drive in Beaverton, this unassuming cafe tucked away next to the manmade lake and across the parking lot from Ruby Tuesday's holds a surprisingly ultra family-friendly environment -- and great eats to boot!

The moment we walked in, the service was outstanding. We were greeted right away, seated, and given a kids menu with crayons. The waiter (whom I actually believe was the manager) gave us attentive service the whole time without hovering. The food was incredible! I had the butternut squash ravioli, my husband had the ceasar salad and my son had the grilled cheese with cup of fruit. Everything was fresh and presented beautifully, and we didn't have to wait long for the food at all, which we all know is crucial when you have kids. We were told that on our way out, our son could choose a toy from the treasure chest to take home with him. We chose a little notepad in the shape of a car. My son was so excited.

Murray Hill Cafe also has free wi-fi and plenty of space for folks without kids to hang out and work without kids like my son being too obnxiously in your space. There are lots of tables but more importantly for those of us with kids, lots of high-back booths. It's an airy space where kids won't feel blocked in.

I miss service like this in restaurants. I miss decent food at a decent price. It's nice to know that we still CAN get these things and be welcomed as diners with little ones in tow. I don't care where you live - go to Murray Hill Cafe even if it's a 25 minute drive, and it will be worth it.